After reading what felt like a million reviews and being mindful of our budget we ended up staying at Hotel Zara. Located extremely close to Republicca Metro stop, about 10 minute walk from Trevi Fountain and in a great, safe location near Via Nazionale.
We were a group of 4 adults and decided, to save on money shared a quad room. Like most European hotels, double beds are made of two single pushed together. When we arrived, the room was split into one double, two singles which was easily rectified by moving the two singles together and rearranging the side tables. We didn't bother the staff with this when we could do it ourselves. It wasn't hard. The room itself, after having read many reviews, we were expecting very tiny with barely any room to move - so when we walked in to our room we were pleasantly surprised by space! There was enough for the 2 double beds, 2 small side tables, a desk, a luggage rack and 2 door wardrobe with ensuite bathroom (bath, shower overhead and toilet and bidet). There was plenty of room to walk in between - it's not a suite at the Hilton but for the price we paid (booked directly through the hotel website at quad room rate, 129 euro per night) we were happy enough.
Cleanliness - the room was made up daily and hotel toiletries (small soap and sachets of shower gel) were restocked daily in abundance. The bathroom did have a damp smell to it - to be expected when there was no window in the bathroom and the only way of drying it was when the light was on and the extractor fan kicked in. There was only one bin (in the bathroom) for the room. Like most European hotels, there is no in room coffee/tea making facilities and as a seasoned traveller, we own a small travel kettle so could make coffee in the room (I bought along our own coffee and purchased milk from a store nearby).
Light - some of the other reviews have commented on how dark the rooms are. I agree. Light was provided by 3 wall lamps (no overhead main light) and during dusk hours, it made the room dark (the time when you might come back from sightseeing and want to freshen up on the way to dinner) but, given that we weren't spending a lot of time in the room, this was a minor inconvenience.
Heating - we went in April (spring in Europe) and had very pleasant temperatures while we were there (20 degrees celsius plus, fine sunny days) and the room subsequently was a bit stuffy. You could open the windows in the main room (where beds etc) were but it was a bit stifling at times. There was an air conditioning unit but when I asked reception how to work it, they said "It doesn't get turned on till 1st June" - they assured us it was safe to sleep with the windows open and, after looking out the window and discovered that it would take spiderman to enter the room, we left the window open at night and were much much cooler this way. There was a radiator in the room and thankfully, for this time of year, it wasn't on!
Breakfast - breakfast was included (which I wasn't aware when we booked!). Typical of some European countries, it consisted of lots of pastries, bread rolls, jams etc (no ham/meats though) and 2 different cereals plus a free tea/coffee machine. For something we weren't expecting, this was fantastic. It was enought to keep us going! We didn't eat in the dining room so not sure about this.
Overall, it's a clean enough, safe enough hotel in a great location at a great price. It's pleasantly decorated. It's not luxurious but when we go away on holiday, we don't spend a lot of time in the room so it suited our needs perfectly! The reception staff were very helpful - giving us maps, helping us with Metro stops for the Vatican and booking us a car service to take us back to the airport (which worked out the same price as catching the train for 4 of us)
Just a note - there was an additional tax to pay upon checkout of 24 euros "preferably in cash" - I have no idea what this was but for 3 nights incl this tax, our stay was still under 400 euros.
Rome additional comments - we got a lot of use out of the Roma Pass (available for 25 euros at the airport) - it covered our entry into the Colesseum as well as lots of other areas it either gives you free or discounted entry but we got most value out of it on the Metro (tube/subway) system. It fast tracks your entry so no long queues at the Colesseum ( a huge bonus).
The Metro system is very easy to use and the best way we got to main attractions but the city is quite small and very easy to walk around.
Food in general is quite expensive and we found the local supermarket "DeSpar" was right around the corner of our hotel and we stocked up on fruit, water and the amazing "pocket coffees", crisps, chocolate etc here for our day trips and tried to limit eating out to night time meals only. Restaurants right near major tourist attractions are VERY expensive so be warned! Try walking up the smaller alley ways away from the attraction and you'll notice the prices start to go down. There is a fantastic restaurant around the corner from Hotel Zara on Via Nazionale, next door to DeSpar supermarket that had very reasonable prices and great staff and fantastic food (including an incredibly fresh whole oven baked sea bass).
Be mindful of people trying to sell you things - you may be given a rose by a seller (usually Indian origin) and then they expect money. If you refuse, they get offended and hang around you till you either walk away or get assertive. I handed a rose back after being given one and had the rose flicked at me - quite an aggressive gesture I thought. So just be careful. They're not all nice! Also - take precautions with your belongings - it's interesting to just watch the sellers when you're sitting down eating - there are a lot of street sellers that also eye off your bags so keep them close at all times and don't get huge wads of money out!
Hope this all helps!

Let's start that the hotel's excellent location - fifteen minutes at the Coliseum and the Spanish Steps, 5 minutes from the Termini train and Venice Palace. Excellent service polite smiling receptionist. Help us to any problem or question. Provides a nice breakfast. The hotel is designed beautiful, picturesque ceilings and antique furniture ... just a feeling Roman.
I traveled with my mother - a women trip and the hotel contributed a lot to the experience.
The hotel is located on a side street near the main "Nazionale" Street, sympathetic and pleasant area at night to women alone.
In summary, the hotel is highly recommended
Michal Hagoel, Israel

Very well located hotel, near Termini station and all famous places in Rome.
Ok, room was a bit small, but good enough for sleeping! Breakfast included mainly sweet cakes, but you can manage with it. Staff friendly. If you do not mind on small things, you can choose this hotel. If you want luxury - go somewhere else!

I arrived at the Hotel Zara - Rome on October 7, 2010 in the late afternoon/evening, and from the very beginning it presented a challenge. I am a very budget-minded traveller, and although I had read some rather negative reviews about this hotel, I decided to try it out because of its location (a step away from Via Nazionale, and close to the Spanish Steps, and just about everything else), and also because there were some positive reviews (regarding the location).

This hotel does not present well, but if you do not care about aesthetics, then this is no problem. For me, I didn't care. I began to care, when I found out that the elevator (which could hold only one person at a time and his/her suitcase) only went to the third floor, and my room happened to be on the fourth. One elevator ride, and a trip up two flights of stairs, I ended up in front of the door to my room. I opened the door, eager with anticipation to throw my exhausted self unto the bed awaiting me, only to discover that I could not see because of the darkness of the room. After locating and turning on the light, I saw my room in its full glory. It was small, but I expected that. It was narrow, I expected that too. It was truly dark, even with the light on. This I did not expect. I saw there was a standing closet, which had one of its doors missing. I saw that there was a desk with a television on top of it, but no chair. I saw that there was a window (and thanked the gods.) I saw that there was a long horizontal mirror above the desk.

I walked to the window, and opened it. I was pleasantly surprised by the view of the patio and an outline of the city of Rome. I turned around to face my room, and sighed. I was in Rome. I looked to my left and saw a smaller room, which I assumed to be the bathroom. Turning on the light, I saw that it too was very small. I expected this. I saw some exposed wires where there should have been a mirror above the sink. I did not expect this. I also did not expect the loud noise that was produced when I turned on the light. I sighed again, and thought to myself, "Well, at least, I am in Rome."

I decided to refreshen my make-up, but as it was getting pretty dark, I decided to find the light source by the mirror, so that I could actually see what I was doing. How foolish I was to think that there would actually be light. I went downstairs to the desk attendant to ask if I could have a lamp of some sort to provide the light needed for me to see, and was told no. I sighed again, at least I was in Rome. I decided I didn't need light for a week and would just do my best at the start of the day. The days went on like this, and only got worse.

I recognized from the first night that someone else had slept in the bed, but I expected this. What I did not expect was to find the many, many hairs left behind by the person who had last occupied the bed however. I did a lot of sighing. Over the course of the week, I received fresh towels, but the room was never swept. The dust accumalating in the room was only made worse by the staff's insistence on keeping my window open, even after I closed it.

Also, I found out to my dismay that I was not allowed to have male visitors as a single woman, because of some belief that I may be prostituting myself (nevermind the fact that I am gay). I was told by an attendant that this was a law in Italy. I had never heard of this before. So, my poor friend (whom I had come to visit me during my visit was told to wait outside while I came downstairs, and was not allowed to help me bring some shopping bags upstairs after I returned. This was all very disappointing, but who was I to interfere with the law of Italy. I sighed again, and decided never return to this hotel.

It also did not help that I was frequently talked about by staff, who referred to me as "la negra," to other people even when I was in their presence (the thought was that I didn't understand Italian at all).

So, my advice: if you happen to be a Black woman travelling alone in Rome, who does not like dirty hotels, and ill-mannered staff, then do not stay at Hotel Zara. Regardless of location, the grief involved in staying there is not worth it.